Utah's Reggie Dunn is a dangerous returner who could burn the Beavers Saturday. And to think he's a player who signed a letter of intent to play in Corvallis. Twice

Wednesday, after OSU practice at Reser

We asked Beavers' coach Mike Riley what the keys were for Oregon State in terms of moving the ball against a good Utah defense.

"Man, you just have to be balanced,'' said Riley. "You've got to have a will to run. You can't just stop running. ... and you better be able to make some throws and some play-action pass plays.''

OSU will run with starting tailback Malcolm Agnew, who appears healthy and ready to do the heavy lifting Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Jordan Jenkins was back at practice and looking 100 percent, but Jovan Stevenson, who has emerged this season as a more-than-adequate Agnew fill-in, appears less than 100 percent (right leg injury) although at least he practiced a bit.

"He probably did more today than I thought he would,'' said Riley, who added that a decision on whether or not No. 19 makes the trip will come tonight or Thursday.

OSU center Grant Johnson, who the Beavers can't afford to be without at Utah, didn't do anything (ankle) but is still expected to start. ... left guard Josh Andrews, who was one of the O-line's emotional leaders before he went down at Wisconsin, looks ready to go to war but I'm not sure he plays vs. the Utes. ... position coach Mike Cavanaugh and Riley both seemed hesitant to say he would see action. And Cav likes what 6-5, 281 soph. Grant Enger has done in relief.

Much has been made about the rapid development of redshirt freshman QB Sean Mannion - the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after he torched Wazzu - and that makes Saturday especially interesting because if the Utes are on their defensive game, they will give Mannion a lot to think about.

"Mostly because of their front four,'' said Riley. "The time factor is going to be the issue. Whether or not he has time to take a good look and make some choices.''

If Utah thinks it can rattle Mannion with a fierce rush and force some bad decisions, you can't blame 'em, but Mannion is proving week in and week out he can handle the heat.

Given the improvement of the OSU offensive line and Mannion's escapability (which isn't bad for a 6-foot-5 player who doesn't have tremendous wheels), I think Oregon State expects to keep Utah out of its quarterback's face. But it won't be easy.

Utah likes to drop a lot of people back in pass coverage.

A wrong decision will likely result in an INT.

"It's not unlike what a lot of people do but they do throw one more guy back there,'' said Riley, who said he's seen plays where the Utes rush TWO and drop NINE.

"We saw the same kind of coverage against Washington State a little bit where they'll rush three, but these guys (Utah) mix it up very well. ... they'll come with an all-out blitz and they'll drop eight or nine people. You just have to react and play against either one.''

Utah's offense is under fire this week and if what we read is true, the Utes can't run or pass with their present lineup. ... Riley does not buy this for one minute. ... also, there is this: a bad Utah offense won't look so bad if Utah's very good special teams play sets the Utes up in short-field situations.

One of the unsung pivot points Saturday will be special teams. Utah is outstanding in that category and the Utes could potentially burn the Beavers with a player who actually signed with Oregon State TWICE before ending up at Utah. That would be Reggie Dunn. Also, on paper this is a team that isn't likely to give up a big return to OSU's Jordan Poyer.

"They are really good,'' said Riley. "We are marveling at their kickoff team. Their kicker (Nick Marsh) really has great hang time, as good a hang time as we've seen. And then they have a bunch of athletes on that team. Teams rarely (break big returns) against them. They hold people inside the 20 a lot.''

I asked Riley if he was in Dunn's home during the recruiting process.

"Yes, it seems like I was in his home many different times in my life,'' said Riley.

I told Riley, I bet he wishes his "reunion'' with a player he thought was coming to Corvallis (twice) was under different circumstances.